I was only joking, says fix-claim F1 boss

Renault chief Flavio Briatore insists his comments claiming this season's world championship battle has been fixed in favour of Michael Schumacher were taken out of context.

Briatore could face action from Formula One's governing body, the FIA, after his claims following the Italian Grand Prix, which Schumacher won before announcing he would retire at the end of the season.

"These comments which have been attributed to me in the press today have been completely taken out of context," read a statement from Briatore.

"A jokey remark has been turned into something it was not intended to be.

"I have every confidence in the governance of our sport and look forward to our team fighting and winning the Formula One World Championship this season."

Briatore was angry his driver, defending champion Fernando Alonso, was dropped to 10th on the grid for yesterday's race after allegedly blocking Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying.

That decision, and a ban on Renault's radical suspension system earlier this year, prompted Briatore to say on RAI television: "This is a world championship which has already been decided at the table.

"We have understood how things go, it has all been decided.

"They have decided to give the world championship to Schumacher and that is what will be."

Schumacher's victory in Monza means he is only two points behind Alonso in the drivers' championship with three races left.